ANLCA: PEACE RETURNS AT LAST

 

It is no more news that Emenike Kingsley Nwokeoji from Amokwe Amiyi Uhu in Isiukwuato of Abia state won the 7th September 2023 organized election of the Association of Nigeria Lessened Customs Agents (ANLCA) as the National President. He is expected to be on board the leadership of this premier association of Customs Brokers for the next four years.

Nwokeoji defeated his strong contender, Dr Kayode Farinto by 10 votes merging, after scoring 33 votes to Farinto’s 23 votes. Other winners that emerged in the keenly contested election are: Prince Segun Oduntan as Vice President, Olumide Fakanlu as National Secretary, Hajia Bola Muse as National Treasurer, Emmanuel Onyeme emerged as National Publicity Secretary. Western Zone Coordinator is Femi Anifowoshe while the Zonal Secretary is Alhaji Idowu Owoade.

On his victory speech, Emenike had said the election is no victor, no vanquish as the victory is for all ANLCA members considering what they all went through. He therefore passionately said that “It is with a heart full of gratitude to God that I thank you all for finding me and other members of NECOM worthy to pilot the affairs of our great Association in the new dispensation.

“What happened on Thursday was a manifestation that God has finally smiled on ANLCA that our years of woes are over. Before us lies an opportunity to rebuild/restore our association and regain our voice in the freight forwarding sub-sector as well as the maritime industry in general.

“These five years of ANLCA wilderness ought to have taught us a very crucial lesson being that strife and divisiveness cannot move us an inch forward as a formidable association.

“We cannot afford this type of distraction and destruction again because even as it lasted, it impacted adversely on all of us hence we must close ranks.

“We must now be focused on how to take our association and profession to the next positive level through effective advocacy, human capacity building and professionalization.

“In a bid to realize the above and other derivable, I wish to declare that the result of Thursday’s election is a victory for ANLCA, hence all sentiments about groups, camps and divides should now be a thing of the past. ANLCA is one big family. No victor, no vanquished!

“Most sincere, I use this opportunity to appreciate Dr. Kayode Farinto and his team for their high-level show of sportsmanship. We shall run an open and all-inclusive administration. Any member with useful ideas is hereby assured that our doors and ears are open and receptive. May the Almighty God continue His divine work in ANLCA,” he concludes.

ANLCA went through a protracted crisis for a very long time which definitely affected the freight forwarding industry. His victory therefore would open a new chapter to Freight Forwarding Community and could be an opportunity to reposition ANLCA to champion the welfare of practitioners making professionalism the way to go.

This was the reaction of Dr. Chudi Basil Nwolisa the President of ANCB who could not hide his joy as he went further to say “this is the happiest day of my very eventful and lively life. Congratulations to Chief Nwokeoji and his team.”

Dr. Nwaolisa is not just the only person felicitating as Comptroller Olu Ogunojemite rtd. and CEO of JEH-ADONAI VENTURES LIMITED in his labelled message felt that the “TRUTH SHALL ALWAYS SUFFICE.” In it he said “may I join with all other well-meaning practitioners to congratulate ANLCA for overcoming successfully all obstacles to conduct elections into the National Executive Council.

“Indeed, only the truth can triumph in any contention. Kudos to everyone that painfully brought about the new dawn.

“I want to call on the elected Executives to be magnanimous in victory and ensure that all old wounds are healed during their tenure,” he concludes.

The Chairman of Board of Trustees (BOT) of ANLCA, Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha in what could be a surprise to him on the peace associated with the day’s election has appreciated all ANLCA members for the cooperation and support they accorded him in this period to restoring peace into the association which definitely led to the success of the election after a period of five years of crisis.

In his lengthy press statement issued after the election, the BoT Chairman, said “For me l have a sense of gratitude having come this far with all the turbulence in recent past and knowing that God has made it possible for us to land safely as conclude the change of leadership and look forward to a new vista of cooperation and progress.

“We have not been alone, concerned stakeholders have seen reasons to stand by us at every critical stage, l want to say that we appreciate them all. I however want to say a big thank you to the Customs Consultative Committee (CCC) ably chaired by Aare Hakeem Olarewaju, l want to thank the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) especially the Council Governing Chairman, Alhaji Tsanni Abubakar, and to thank all members of the Board of Trustees (BOT) for their individual roles in birthing a new administration in ANLCA.

“I want to also put on record the role Prince Taye Oyeniyi has played in the course of this journey and of course, the statesmanship role of Chief Ernest Elochukwu, l thank the two of them specially; while not also forgetting our past leaders for their behind the curtain mediatory roles and counseling.

“I want to also appreciate Prince Olayiwola Shittu the former President of ANLCA, Dr Eugene Nweke and Rtd DCG Austin Warikoru for their roles in getting us out of the woods.

“In view of the above, especially in view of the safe conduct of the election earlier today, l want every member to know that yes, a winner has emerged finally, but want all to be assured that it is a win-win contest for both camps.

“At this juncture, l want to especially call and thank Dr. Kayode Farinto and Alhaji Mukaila Abdulazeez for holding out the best way they could during the period of the crisis in addition to Mukaila Abdulazeez’s brief sole administrator-ship stint; during period which we drew from his wealth of knowledge and experiences about the knitty-gritty of the Association that has contributed to birthing our safe landing.

“I want to also commend and thank the newly elected National Executive Committee (NECOM), especially the National President, Mr. Emenike Nwokeoji and his Vice, Prince Segun Oduntan and to urge them not to see today’s victory as a winner-take-it-all affair, they must be magnanimous in victory and to reach out to their opponents and to regard the whole exercise as a brotherly contest.

“Having thanked the past acting and newly elected national past presidents for allowing peace to reign at the election to urged them and all members to understand that election is about partisanship and that after it has been won and lost, it is time for partnership and thus they must rally around the new NECOM and National President to make it possible for them to succeed in taking ANLCA to a greater height.

“I believe that for as long as God in His infinite mercies continue to keep us alive, those who lost today may win tomorrow, and therefore l urge everyone to keep the peace and continue to offer service through selfless and vigorous support for the good of ANLCA and all its members.”